Treating apparatus



July 31, 1928.

F. M. FURBER TREATING APPARATUS l e e h s s t e e h s 2 ll llllll lgZZ. 4/

July 31, 1928. 1,678,773 F. M. FURBER TREATING APPARATUS 4/ A; III /I// II I III ll III] I [/l I III L I.

Illl LB fII/l/Il/I/l/ll/ Ill) ?atented July 31, 1928.

' Units RATE or rice.- I

rn-snnsrox ,M. FURBER, or-nnvnnn, nnssecnqsnr'rs, sSI G Qn TQ UNITED SHOE neonnvnny CORPORATION, orrsrnnson, :ivng vmnsnm-noonronemo v on NEW JERSEY.

TREATING ren ws.

Application filed September 8, 1923; Serial No. 661,683. I

This invention relates to apparatus for treating shoes in process of manufacture and more particularly to apparatus for softening the upper leather and stiffening members to facilitate shaping them to the lasts. Accordmost approved inanufac-turmg" ing to methods now being practised it is customary to soften the toe end of an assembled shoeprior to the pulling-over operation and to perform a second softening operation, after the pulling-over operation,- to render the toe end limp and. pliant for the lasting operation. Many features of the present invention hereinafterdescribed are capableof use in either ofthe softening operations above mentioned, but since the illustrated apparatus is designed more especially for the second softening' operationthe invention will be des:;ribed in terms relating to the operation by which a pulled-over shoe is softened for lasting.

The most effective softening treatment for the purpose above stated consists in sub jecting' the work to theaction of moderate heat and moist vapor. Many types of apparatus heretofore used for this purpose have been objectionable for one reason or another. For example, some require too much time after a period of non-use to as-- quire a sufficiently effective working condition some entail an operating cost too great to be economical, some discharge excessive quantities of vapor, and some overheat the shoes and scorch them because of faulty design or insui'lic-ient provision for regulation. Accordinglyan object of the invention is to provide improved treating apparatus hav-' ing a relatively low operating cost, a rapid heating and vapor-producing capacity, and

provision for quick regulation and vcon'ipletccontrol of the vapor output.

More specifically, object is to provide v a p o r an improved apparatus to generate the v with a high degree of efficiency and without possibility of overflowing; In this respect a feature oft-he invention consists in an organization comprising a boiler of small capacity and a communicating gravity-feedV waterreservoir to hold. a relatively large supply-of water in equilibrium.whenthe less than connncnsurato with the vaporizing capacity ofthe boiler, A feature closely related to this consists in restricting the waterthe initial accumulation ofWat-er in the boiler may be wholly dissipated byvaporization wltlnna few minutes after startingthe oporation of the boiler; and thercafter theop eration is that of a. flash-boiler; Another result is that when the heating agent. is

turned off the boiler and the reservoirma-in-,

tain the water in equilibrium as soon as.

enough water has flowed through the replenishing connection to raise the level in the boiler to that in the r'eservoir. This an tiflooding feature. does away with the necessity of disturbing the regulating valve r otherwise turning offthe waiter t i Another feature consists in the construction of the flash-boiler by. which a high degree of efiiciency is obtained In the illustrated construction the boiler comprises an capacity. The shape of the water-space is:

like that of a thin tube of considerablelength and diameter) Preferably the vaporizing heat is developed in the core wither Without supplemental heat developed elsewhere.

Loss of heatby conduction to the reservoir is prevented by arranging the boiler and reservoir apart from'each other and provid ing a replenishing .pipe so long and yet so, small in cross-sectional area that itsv tendency to transmit heat is counteracted by the water flowing through it constantly in the opposite direction. lVhatever heat is developed. in"

this pipe is carried baclrto the boiler by the water and utilized, exceptmg a negligible quantity lost by radiation. 7

The nventlon consists further in a novel combination comprising a flash-boiler and a heat-radiating and 7heat-conducting element formed and arranged to spreadthe vapor laterally. This combinationprovides for supporting one heat-radiating element by .the. other and provides a compact assemblage designed to conserve the 'heat. As shown,- the ri upper heat radiatin'g element supports the flash-boiler, the latter being (ill y with. legs 11 to form the stand.

heat-radiating structure 12 is supported by.

suspended by the aforesaid outer shell which is therefore heated not only by the core but also by the supporting element.

Still another feature consists in improved means for mounting the heated elements of the apparatus on a supporting base or stand without detracting appreciably from the heating efficiency of the apparatus. This feature preferably comprises iron or steel connecting rods of considerable length to re strict the. conduction of heat, but having short bends of 180 degrees to afford compactness of the assemblage.

Other features of the invention are hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated by the drawings. 7

In the drawings,

' Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly in section of an apparatus embodying the invention in a form suitable to treat two shoes at once;

Fig; 2 is a vertical section in the planes indicated by line 22 of Fig. 1 and includes the forepart of a pulled-over shoe in position for treatment;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view partly in section of a portion of the metallic heat-radiating structure in which the treating chambers are formed; and k Fig. .4 is a horizontal section in the plane indicated by line t4tof Fig. 1,

The illustrated apparatus comprises a cast iron base or .ipporting structure 10 designed to standon a bench and provided A cast iron the structure 10 but preferably has no di rect contact therewith because it is desirable to minimize the conduction of heat in that direction. .Accordingly the structures 10 and 12 are connected by a pair of U shaped iron or steel. rods 13 which, though having a slight capacity to conduct heat, so far minimize the conduction thereof that the structure 12 is, to all intents and purposes, insulated from the structure 10 to conserve the heat in the structure 12. These connecting rods are anchored in bosses'formed on the structure 10 and are secured by bolts 1/1. The rods also extend through bosses 15 formed on the heat-radiating structure 12, the latter being thus suspended and vertically adjustable relatively to the rods and provided with set-screws 16 to engage the rods.

The heat-radiating structure 12 formed p the front of the chamber, and for this pur pose it is preferably connected to the end.

walls 21 by trunnions 24 one of which, the right-hand one in Fig. 1, is preferably a wing bolt adapted to clamp the top wall in any desired position. The structure 12 is formed with a double'b'ott'om to provide a vapor chamber 25, and the Walls 22 are provided with holes 26 to emit the vapor from the chamber 25 to the treating chambers. Foraminousbrass plates 27 are preferably arranged on the bottom walls 22 to equalize the distribution of vapor. The bottom of the structure 12 is also provided with chamhere for the reception of electric heating units 28, these chambers being open at the back wall for the insertion of the heating units. 7 7

Hot moist vapor at atmospheric pressure is supplied to the chamber by a flash boiler comprising an upstanding cylindric tube or shell 80 and an upstanding cylind ic heat-radiating core 31. These elements are both preferably made of cast iron, and are connected by bolts 32. .A. gasket 33 of any suitable material, for example copper or lead, provides a water-tight joint. he tube or shell 31 is open at the top and is supported by and hangs from the bottom of the structure 12, being fastened to the latter by bolts The shell 30 and core 31 together form an upstanding tubular space or well of very small capacity in comparison to the surface area presented by the core. A chamber is formed in the core for the reception of an electric heating unit 36,'said chamber being open only at the sertion of the unit. v I

Electric conductors 37 lead from the units 36 and 28 to a switch 38'l1aving a rotary operating knob 39. Although any preferred type of switch may be used I prefer one that has four positions, in one of which the current is turned from all the units, in another of which the current is turned on with respect to the units 28, in another of which it is turned on with respect to all the units, and in the fourth of which it is turned off with respect to the units 28 but maintained with respect to the unit 36. It isQthus possible to operate the lieat-rudiating element 12 without supplying any vapor, or to operate the vaporizer in conjunction with the heat-radiating element 12, or to operate the vaporizer without developing heat in the 'structin'e 12. The base structure 10 13 formed to provic e bottom for the inthe water in the reservoir and that in the vaporizer are in equilibrium, but when the vaporizer is in operation itquickly evaporates all the surplus water therein because the maximum capacity of the pipe ll is loss the... the vaporizing capacity of the heat-radiating core. Consequently,as soon as all the surplus water in the vaporizer has been vaporized the vaporizer operates as a flash-boiler and continues so to operate un til the current is turned oil; Under th .itions the heat developed in the cereal intains the water in the vaporizer considerably below its normal level and thus causes nearlythe entire periphery well as the top of the core to beexposed to the vapor. Both the shell 3 and the heated core 31 extend upwardly nearly to the level of the worh and the anniiilar sheet of vapor surrounding the core, being const ained by the she l to i'iow along the core, is Iurther heated by the core until it nearly reaches the work. These conditions insure a considerable i1.- crease in the temperature of the vapor above the initial temperature thereof. In consequence,the'sottening of the work is accomplished quickly but the quantity of moisture delivered to the work is very slight. Then, when the heat of the core 31 is too low to continue boiling, the equilibrium oi -the water will be restored but the vaporizer will not overflow because its upper portion is as high as the maximum water level of the reservoir.

Most of the heat that seeks to pass along the pipe all by conduction is carried back to tie boiler by the water flowing to the latter an d never reaches the coupling by which the pipe is connected to the reservoir.

A needle-valve 422 is provided to regulate the quantity of water that may flow t the supply pipe, said valve being. screwed into a sleeve 4l3 to which thesupply pipe is A hole 4% extending diametrically throng 1 the sleeve completes thecommunieating passageway. p

The top of the reservoir is preferably open to facilitate filling excepting when it is covered by a movable work support d5 which is preferably made of wood. work support is connected to the structure by a hinge-rod which extends through supporting cars 47. in adjusting screw a8 screwed into the structure 10 serves as a sup portlor the front margin of the work support and provides for adjusting the latter to various angles.

To guard against-scorching the work the end valls 21, 21 and the partition 19 may be ced with strips of wood or any other he at-in sulatin m aterial.

'The shoe indicated at 51 is oneof the.

maller sizes and accordingly the adjustable top wall 23 oithe heating chamberis set at a relatively low position to restrict nio-te the ellicicncy of the apparatus. l Vhen it desired to treat a. larger shoe it would be preferable to raise the top wall 23 suiticiently to provide ample clearance for the instep portion, for otherwise thehot vapor escapin work.

Havin g thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new and desireto secure byLet tors" Patent oi? the UnitedStates is: i

1. A treating apparatus comprising a flash-boiler and a water reservoir both open to the atmosphere and in communication with each other and arrangedto hold the water in equilibrium when the boiler is not functioning, the vaporizing capacity of saidv boiler exceeding the maximumrate of flow of watertroln the reservoir tothe boiler.

53. A treating apparatus comprising a tank for supplying water, an open ,welhot. relatively small capacity thetop andbottoin of which are respectivelyabove and below; the highest water level of said tank, means. arranged to conduct water'bygravitation from said tank to said. well, means forcoiu verting the water in said well into hotmoist vapor, and means for supportinganarticle of work in position to betreatedby such vapor. I

' 3.1K treating apparatus comprising afiash-boiler, avwater reservoir thermallyin sulat-ed theretrom, and a pipe connecting them, the three said elements being arranged to maintain the water inequilibrium when the boiler is not functioning and the feeding capacity of said pipe being less than the vaporizing capacity of said boiler.

t. A' treating apparatus comprising a flash-boiler, waterreservoir thermallyinsulated therefrom, and regulatable waterfeeding means forming communication beat that point might scorch the tween said boiler and said reservoiir,tl1e

lOO

hot moist vapor flowing upwardly in said boiler to work stationed. over and adjacent to said top, heating means arranged in said core, and means arranged tosupply water. to said well at a rate slow enough to insure. exposure of a considerable surface area of said core to the vapor generated in thelower. part of said boiler.

6. A treating apparatus comprising 'u standin shell and anu standin .corefl lilo therein forming a thin and relatively deep well open at the top and closed at the bottom, means arranged to supply water to said well normally to a relatively high level but at a slow rate of flow, and means arranged to heat said core and thereby lower the surface of the water in said well below its normal level by vaporizing the water at a rate faster than the rate of replenishment afforded by said supplying means, thus decreasing the area of contact between said core and'the water and increasing the area of contactvbetween said core and the vapor flowing upwardly in said well.

7. A treating apparatus comprising means forming an open-topped well, a reservoir for cold water, a conduit forming communication between said reservoir and said well, said conduit, said means and said reservoir being arranged to maintain the water normally in equilibrium in all of them, an upstanding core in said well, and heating means arranged in said well to vaporize the water therein and to superheat the vapor flowing upwardly in the well, said conduit and said heating means being proportioned to lower the surface of the water in said 'well below the level of the water in said reservoir and thereby expose to the vapor a portion of said core normally submerged in said conduit being arranged to maintain the water in equilibrium when the boiler is not functioning, and heating means arranged in said core to reduce the water in said boiler below its level of equilibrium and thereby cause the boiler to operate as a fiaslnboiler.

9. A treating apparatus comprising an upstanding cylindric water receptacle open at the top and having an upstanding cylindric heat-radiating core by which the waterspace is restricted-to tubular shape, means for supplying water to said space to be con verted into vapor by said core, and heatradiating means above said receptacle formed and arranged to spread the vapor laterally and having holes through which the vapor may rise to work stationed above it.

10. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a hollow metallic structure forming a vapor chamber and having a chamber to receive a heating element, a water receptacle adjoining and depending from the bottom of said chamber, said receptacle having a metallic core projecting upwardly from its bottom, said core having a chamber for a heating element to vaporize the water, and said structure having one or more holes to emit the vapor to work stationed adjacent there- 11. A vapor-generating apparatus comprising a metallic upstanding heat-radiating element, an upstanding shell surrounding said element and forming a water-space also surrounding the latter and open at the top,

means other than said upstanding element to heat said shell, and regulatable means for supplying water to said space to be vaporized by said element.

12. A vapor-generating apparatus com- 13. A vapor-generating apparatus com-v prising an upper heat-radiating element, a metallic tube depending from and supported by sald element, a heat-radiating core supported by and surrounded by saidtube, 7

said shell and core forming an annular water-space open at'the top, and means for supplying water tosa-id space to be vaporized by said core. V r

14. A vapor-generating apparatus comprising an upper heat-radiating element-,a lower heat-radiating element, a metallic tube in heat-conducting relation to each of said elements, said tube and said lower heat-ra diating element being formed and arranged to provide an annular water-space, and means to supply water to sa1d space to be vaporized.

15. A vapor-generating apparatus comprising means forming an annular, upstanding boiler, a heat-conducting element supporting said boiler and engaging the outer wall thereof, means for heating said element, and means for supplying water to said boiler.

16. A vapor-generating apparatus comprising an upright, metallic tube, heating means in heat-condncting relation to the outside of said tube, heating means arranged in said tube to form an annular water-space, and means to supply water to said space to be vaporized.

17. A vapor-generating apparatus comprising a boiler open at the top to emit vapor, means for heating said boiler, means formed and arranged to spread the vapor laterally above the top of said boileiqand heating means arranged to heat said vaporspreading means, a portion'of the latter said means being in heat-conducting relation to said boiler.

18. A vapor-generating apparatus comprising heating means, an upright metallic tube suspended from said means and engaging the latter in heat-conducting relation, and heating means arranged in said tube and joined to the lower portion thereof to be supported thereby, the latter said means and said tube forming an annular Water-space.

19.21 vapor-generating apparatus comp 'ising a metallic supporting structure having a chamber for Water, a metallic heatradiating structure, metallic means rigidly connecting said two structures to support the latter and formed to minimize the conduction of heat, a metallic tube depending from and supported by said heat-radiating Water from said chamber to said Water-space to be vaporizedhy said core.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 20 name to this specification.

FREDERICK M. FURBER. 

